Creators of the original Diary

Our Stories

Creators of The Original Diary

Discover unique products from our 200 year old archive and the stories they have to tell.

Founded in 1796

When John Letts combined a journal with a calendar in 1812 he engineered a unique accessory, inventing and publishing the world’s first known commercial diary. The product was a response to the growing trade in the City of London at the time. It proved to be a success and by the early 1820's a range of diaries offering different sizes and formats were published. Further growth happened with the development of the pocket diary, as the product became a style accessory rather than just a desk bound object. In the twentieth century, the specialist diary was also created. Designed to cater for specific interest with unique editorials to match.

“Since day one in 1796 we have maintained a manufacturing presence in Great Britain, proudly passing the bookmaking knowledge and skills from one generation to the next.”

Innovation

Never in the way, nor out of the way; we have captured stories and unique moments in history. The secret to our longevity is quality and innovation. Through dedication and commitment, we have proudly maintained a manufacturing plant in Great Britain for the entirety of our Heritage. To this day we continue to use the same time- tested craftsmanship of traditional book binding. True to John Letts’ original vision, we still produce quality stationery that helps you tell your story and plan for the future.